Steve Hansen joins Manly Sea Eagles

World Cup-winning former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has switched codes to rugby league after joining NRL club Manly Warringah Sea Eagles as Football Performance Director.

Steve Hansen joins Manly Sea Eagles

The 67-year-old will work closely with head coach Kieran Foran, chief executive Jason King and Manly’s wider football department as the Sea Eagles reshape their high-performance programme ahead of the 2027 season.

Hansen said he was excited to join a club with a strong history and sporting identity and was particularly looking forward to working alongside Foran and the club’s leadership team.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Manly Sea Eagles and to be part of a club that is steeped in history, success and a strong sporting identity,” said Hansen.

He will work closely with rookie head coach Kieran Foran and chief executive Jason King.

“He is one of the greatest sporting minds of his generation, and I am incredibly excited to work with him and learn from him,” said Foran, who is in his first coaching job.

“Steve brings an incredible level of experience and insight, and I know he will challenge all of us to think bigger, raise our standards and become better.”

The appointment represents a significant move for Manly after finishing ninth in the 17-team NRL competition in 2026, narrowly missing the finals.

All Blacks World Cup winner switches codes

Hansen brings one of the strongest coaching records in international rugby union.

He served as All Blacks head coach from 2012 until 2019, overseeing 107 Tests and suffering just 10 defeats during that period.

His tenure included New Zealand’s triumph at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, while the All Blacks maintained an outstanding winning record during his seven years in charge.

Since leaving the international role, Hansen has increasingly focused on strategic leadership, mentoring and high-performance development, including positions in Japanese rugby.

The Sea Eagles will hope his experience can help push the club back into NRL finals contention after narrowly missing out in 2026.